WaPo via SJ Mercury News:

A special court that will pit scientists against activists in the debate over whether vaccines have caused autism in many children begins hearings today with the first test case, involving a 12-year-old Arizona girl.Although science has weighed in heavily on the question - with strong evidence that vaccines are not linked to the disease - a very vocal group of people remains unconvinced.

More than 4,800 cases are pending, filed by parents who believe their children have autism that was caused by vaccines. The little-known US Court of Federal Claims has set up an omnibus hearing in Washington, DC, with the first case expected to last three weeks.

The parents are seeking payment under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, a no-fault system that has a $US2.5 billion ($2.9 billion) fund built up from a 75-cent-per-dose tax on vaccines.

I don't pretend to have any special medical knowledge, so I will link both sides on the thimerosal debate: Robert Kennedy, Jr. pointing to causation and suspected cover up and Arthur Allen on why thimerosal is safe in his opinion.

Ms.:

Texas Governor Rick Perry (R) on Friday issued an executive order that made Texas the first state to require girls entering the sixth grade to receive the HPV vaccine, beginning in September 2008. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Gardasil, a vaccine that prevents several strands of the sexually transmitted disease human papillomavirus (HPV), in June 2006. Gardasil is approved for women ages nine-26 to prevent cervical cancer and genital warts caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18.

Though Governor Perry is known as a social conservative, his press secretary, Robert Black, told The Dallas Morning News, "He came to the conclusion it was the right thing to do. You don't have opportunities like this where you can certainly prevent a cancer. It's never happened before, so it would be irresponsible to walk away from it."

Seriously, this is such a no-brainer that I'm surprised other states haven't jumped on the bandwagon. The whole wingnut argument that this encourages girls to have sex is a bit bizarre to me. As a mom, I truly hope that my daughter will have a fulfilling sex life when she's an adult. I don't see how a shot in the sixth grade will make her more likely to have sex at a younger age. But if I can do something to prevent her from getting cancer in her 40s, what's the problem with that?

Yahoo News :

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, who served as Health and Human Services Secretary in President Bush's first term, said Wednesday he intends to form a committee to explore a possible run for the White House in 2008.

[..]Thompson, who will turn 65 on Sunday, spent nearly four decades in politics and government, including 14 years as governor. He resigned as HHS secretary in December 2004 shortly after Bush won a second term. His tenure at HHS was marked by anthrax attacks, a flu vaccine shortage and passage of the Medicare prescription law. Read on...

There's a record of achievement to run on.

Saturday Miscellany

Blogospheric roundup:

Ezra Klein on the radical right's hypocrisy over the human papilloma vaccine
The Guardian Newsblog on a Gitmo detainee's testimony to Amnesty International
Scott Lemieux on the self-pity of the pro-life Democrat
Pro-choice Don on how he can't be bothered with Roe and Chris Clarke on how defending other people's rights gets tiresome.

--Lindsay Beyerstein of Majikthise

The Extreme Religious Right's war on science continues: There's a new vaccine which has proven nearly 100% effective in the prevention of the type of infections which can lead to cervical cancer. Guess who opposes vaccination? Jesus Is My Puppeteer...because my heart is pure.

Todd and in Charge: You know Al-Qaida is in its last throes and about to be vanquished when they start running ads in major Arab newspapers for various vacant spots in their PR department.

More on trafficking in human beings. That compassionate conservative, G-DUB, recently waived financial sanctions on Saudi, Arabia for failing to do enough to stop the modern-day slave trade.

A Liberal Dose: Oct 6 was a great day to be a liberal!

THIS LINK SPEAKS VOLUMES!

More on trafficking in human beings. That compassionate conservative, G-DUB, recently waived financial sanctions on Saudi, Arabia for failing to do enough to stop the modern-day slave trade. A Liberal Dose: Oct 6 was a great day to be a liberal!

Petty Larseny: New Evidence of Harriet Miers' Position on Abortion...this might surprise some.

Martial Law and the advent of the Supreme Executive: President Bush warned the nation that outbreaks of Bird Flu may require massive quarantines enforced by the US Military. If a vaccine is developed, would this outfit be able to get hold of any?

The Heretik: more on our dyslexic Preznit improving America's standing in the world by claiming Divine itervention.

Winners of the IgNobel Prize:The winners have all done things that first make people LAUGH, then make them THINK.
",0] ); D(["ce"]); D(["ms","f892"] ); //-->The Heretik: more on our dyslexic Preznit improving America's standing in the world by claiming Divine itervention.

Winners of the IgNobel Prize:The winners have all done things that first make people LAUGH, then make them THINK.